Clever Geek Handbook

Configuring OpenGL for Multiple Monitors

I am getting started with OpenGL programming on a Windows 7 machine and my application is made up of full screen windows where there is a separate window and thread for each monitor. What steps should I take to have a continuous scene? I am still confused about many of the concepts of OpenGL and how I should handle it. Is this basically the same as rendering a single monitor, except with the view matrix and the extra context work, or is it more complicated?

EDIT: I found a website with information, but it's fuzzy and no sample code: http://www.rchoetzlein.com/theory/2010/multi-monitor-rendering-in-opengl/

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My first question is, why do you need two different OpenGL windows?

Have you considered a solution that the gaming industry has already used? Many 3D applications and games that support multiple monitor settings do not actually control separate individual windows, but allow the GPU to control rendering across multiple screens. I used this on a project this year to see the oculus and viewer on a TV screen. I failed with two OpenGL scripts, just two different "cameras".

http://www.amd.com/en-us/innovations/software-technologies/eyefinity

http://www.nvidia.com/object/3d-vision-surround-technology.html



Pros

  • Easier to code. You just treat your code like one scene and you don't need any weird scripts.
  • Graceful degradation. If your user only has one screen instead of two, your app will still behave great unless there are a few UI details.
  • Best performance (Anecdotal). In my own project, I found better performance over using two different 3D windows.

against

  • Lack of control. You are requested by the driver suppliers. For example, nVidia surround requires GPUs to be configured in SLI for whatever reason.
  • Limited support. Only a relatively new graphics card supports this multi-monitor technology.
  • The best impeller screens have the same resolution. Difficult to cope with different aspect ratios and even resolutions with the same aspect ratio.
  • Inconvenient. The user will have to set their computer to multi monitor mode if they can have their own preferred mode.
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